GADGT

Does anyone know if there is an engine chip available for the RX300 that will increase HP?

DevilDog

I have yet to see any lexus model that had a removable chip. All the chips a soldered to the motherboards. Only have seen the piggy back computers.

But if you find someone who claims to sell one, let us know. I'd like to see that.

GADGT

Thanks I will let you know if I find anything.

Baetke

I've seen piggy-back computers on line but have one major concern. It's no big trick to change the fuel/air ratio to increase power, but how to you keep from burning up your catalytic converter. They are designed to run at a F/A mixture of 14.7:1 and will burn up if run too long at any other mixture. Does the computer come with a tube that you install in place of the cat until you have to pass your smog test?

salimshah

Lot easier to reduce weight of RX than to modify the chip.

Salim

reisjdmd

HP or torque?? as i understand it, increasing HP increases top speed. increasing torque makes it faster to get to that top speed. most people that want more "umph," really want more torque, not mor HP. that said, i am shocked at how much "umph" this little 6 banger really puts out, given the weight of the beast. when i want to pass someone, and i punch it, this thing actually flies [given how heavy it is]. probably has to do with the variable valve timing, if i remember right. if your rx seems sluggish, there might be a problem you are not aware of. i would NEVER diddle with the chip that governs engine performance on a vehicle like this. just my 2 cents worth.

trhs75

Reisjdmd makes a good point. I put a chip in my GMC Typhoon years ago, and I'm lucky I didn't ruin the engine. And it wasn't built as durably (?) as the RX.

Australian

A lot of these chips just work by fooling the sensors into failing unless someone has gone to the trouble of customising the chip for the build eg because you do not have different extractors or a different head then you will get nothing for your money. I am not talking about the snake oil chips but any chip that hasn't been built for a modified car will be highly unlikely it will gain any more power or economy than the factory design. In this car i couldn't be convinced i was buying any more power from a stock motor.

trhs75

As someone once pointed out to me, if a chip really increased power, economy, etc., why wouldn't the manufacturer (with extensive budgets, knowlege, and testing) have programmed it that way originally?

carguy07

Because everything is a compromise, but on these cars there is no magic chip. For a performance car with mods or even a diesel, there can be a world of untapped HP.

jbl-1985

Personally this is the last thing I would ever try to do as there are just so many things you can adversly affect by doing so. These cars were designed to provide a plush ride not blow the quarter mile away.